Automatic valve for water-heaters.



R. R. JAMES. AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR. WATER HEATERS. APPLICATION 111L213 DEC. 27, 1911.

1 qafififia Patented Apr. 23, 1912. 3

RICHARD? JAMES, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AUIGMATIG VALVE FOR- WATER-HEATERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD R. JAMES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings andv State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Valves for Water-Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic valves for water heaters of the type known as instantaneous in which the operation of the valve caused by the opening and closing of the service cock of the water heater automatically operates the gas supply valve of the gas heater.

The purpose of my invention is to sim plify and improve the construction and operation of this type of automatic water valve and to this end I provide a casing formed witha piston chamber, having a 'water inlet passage communicating with said chamber at one end and a water outlet passage communicating with said chamber at both ends, a piston operating in said chamber between the two communications of Specification of Letters i'atent.

the water outlet passage, an outlet valve normally closing the port from the inlet end of the chamber to the water outlet passage, and means actuated by the movement of the piston for opening and closing said outlet valve. The piston rod is extended beyond the casing to actuate the usual gas valve in a manner well understood. The means whereby the piston operates the outlet valve comprise preferably a lever pivoted between its ends in the outlet passage and supporting the outlet valve upon one end and having its opposite end projected through the other port into the path of the piston by which it is actuated. A spring normally holds the lever of the outlet port in closed position. The controlling piston is provided with limiting stops or lugs to confine its movements and the usual spring engages the piston to hold it in its normal retracted position when the water is shut oif. This simple form of automatic valve mechanism is positive in action and not liable to stick and get out of order. The controlling piston can be provided with an oil soaked packing which operates upon the unbroken inner surface of the piston chamber so that it is subjected to less wear than pistons of some valve mechanisms heretofore used.

In order that my invention may be fully understood I will first describe the same with the piston is mounted in the of the piston chamber 2. The lever 27 is pivot-ally mounted between its ends upon a Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Application filed December 27, 1911. Serial No. 668,170.

suitable packing 6. The inner end of the piston is formed with a limiting lug 7, which in the normal retracted position of engages a similar lug 8 projecting from the inner face of the removable cap 3. 'A piston rod 10 projects from the outer face of the piston 5 through gland 0r stufiing box 11 formed upon the casing 1. The piston rod 10 is designed to operate the gas supply valve of the gas heater in the usual manner. A spring 12 surrounds the piston rod 10 and is confined between the outer face of the piston 5 and the solid head of the chamber 2. The spring '12 tends to hold the piston 5 in its normal retracted position.

1313 indicate lugs projecting from the outer face of piston 5 in position to engage the end wall of chamber 2 to limit the out ward movement of the piston under the ac tion of the water hereinafter described.

At one side of the casing, I provide a water inlet passage 15 communicating with the inner end of the piston chamber'2 at the inner side of piston 5. This passageway 15 has the cold water supply pipe con- .nected with it in ,the usual manner. At the opposite side of the casing outlet water passage 20 which extends longitudinally of the chamber 2 and, communicates with the chamber at itsinner end through a port 21 and at its outer end through a port 22. The port 21 is prov ded with a valve seat to receive a valve 25 which normally closes the 13011321. The valve'25 may be of any suitable construction but is shown in the drawing as a conical'valve which is pivotally mounted at 26 upon the 1 I provide an end of a valve controlling lever 27 which outlet passage alongside pivot pin 30 formed with a threaded head 31 seated in a ..threaded opening in the side wall of passage and having its inner (and engaging an alined socket 32 in the opposite wall of said passage 20. The end of lever 27 opposite tothe valve is formed with an inwardly presented cam head 35 which projects through the port 22 into the path of the controlling piston 5. This head has an inclined or. cam face 3? presented,

at an angleto the line of movement, of the piston 5. A. spr1ng36 engaging the lever 271s confined by removable screw cap 37 "threaded into a 'suitable opening in the easing. This spring 36 holds the lever 27 in normal position with the valve 25 closed. JL'limiting pin or lug 38 may be provided upon the lever 27 to engage the inner wall oi passageway 20 for positively limiting the valve closing movement of the lever. Piston shown with a flaring flange 40 extending from its outer face in position to engage the cam head 35 of lever 27 for opening and closing the valve It will be understood from the above de scription that when my improved automatic valve is applied to an instantaneous water heater, and the water is shut off, the

manpressure upon opposite sides of the pistona will be practically equal so that the spring 12 "will hold the piston in its normal retracted position, allowing the outlet valve 25 to rest in closed position. In this normal position of the valve the gas supply valve 'is closed. cock is open the flow of water from the outlet passage 20 and the piston chamber 2 on the outer end of the piston 5 will disturb --thc equilibriun'l of the piston and permit the v bf'the piston a is closed the pressure of water upon the opposite sides of the pistonzibecomes equalized and the spring 12 Wlll gradually move the "piston back to its normal retracted position pcrn'litting the spring 36 to close the outlet vvalve 25 when the mechanism is in readiness for another operation such as just described. Tt will be understood that the movement is very slight and that the packing of the piston operates only upon the" finished interior surface of the chamber so that an ell'ective packed fit between the piston and its chamber may be maintained without diilieulty since it is subjected to a minimum amount of wea r. The outlet valve 25 and its seat are preferably made of noncorroding materials so that practically no \Vhen the hot water service This outward movement difficulty will be experienced from the valves sticking or getting out of order. In

addition to the simplicity of the valve 1' terior to said chamber and both communieating with said chamber upon the same side of said piston, said inlet passage being in substantially tree communication with said chamber, an outlet valve normally closing the communication from said chamber to said outlet passage, and means actuated by said piston for opening said outlet valve when the gas valve has been opened by said piston.

2. In a gas valve operating device the combination of a casing having a piston chamber, a piston operating in said chamber, a water inlet passage freely communicating with one end of said chamber,'a water outlet passage exterior to said chamber com.- munieating with both ends of said chamber, an outlet valve normally closing the communication from the inlet end of said chamber to said outlet passage, and means actuated by said piston for opening said outlet valve when the gas valve has been operated by said piston.

3. The combination of a casing having a piston chamber, a piston operating in said chamber, a water inlet passage communicating with one end of said chamber upon one side of said piston, a water outlet passage exterior to said chamber communicating with both ends of said chamber upon opposite sides of said piston, an outlet. valve nor mally closing the communication from the inlet end of said chamber to said outlet passage, and a valve operating device mounted in said outlet passage and projecting into said chamber in position to be actuated by said piston.

4. In a gas valve operating device the combination of a casing having a piston chamber, a water inlet passage communicating with one end of said chamber, and a water outlet. passage communicating with both ends of said chamber, with a piston operating in said chamber, an outlet valve normally closing the communication from the inlet end of said chamber to said outle passage, a pivotally mounted valve supp rting lever, and means connectedwith said piston 'for operating said lever to open the val 'e when the gas valve has been operated hysaidpisto communicating with 15. The combination of a casing having a piston chamber, a water inlet passage one end of said chamber, anda water outlet passage communicating with both ends of said chamber, with a piston operating in said chamber, an outlet valve normally closing the communication from the inlet end of said chamber to said outletpassage, and a valve supporting lever mounted in said outlet passage and projecting into said chamber in position tobe operated by said piston.

6.- The combination of a casing having a piston chamber,'a water inlet passage comoutlet and equalizing municating with one end of said chamber, and a Water outlet passage communicating with both ends of said chamber, with a piston operating in said chalnber, an outlet valve normally closing the communication from the inlet end of said chamber to said outlet passage, a valve supporting lever pivotally mounted in said outlet passage, and a cam head upon one end of said lever rojecting into said chamber in the path of said piston to be operated thereby.

7. The combination of a casing having a piston chamber, awater inlet passage exte rior to said chamber in free communiqfation with said chamber adjacent to one end, and a water outlet passage also exterior to said, chamher andt communicating through ports with both ends of said chamber, a piston operating in said chamber between said outlet and equalizing ports, avalve normally closing said outlet port, and a valve supporting lever pivoted in said outletpassage and projecting through said equalizing port into the path of said piston.

8. The combination of a casing having a piston chamber, a water inlet passage in free communication with said chamber adjacent to one end, and a water out-let passage communicating through outlet and equalizing ports with both ends of said chamber, a piston operating in said chamber between said outlet and equalizing ports, a valve normally closing said outlet port, a valve supporting lever pivoted in said outlet passage and projecting through said equalizing port into the path of said piston, and a spring engaging said lever and holding said valve normally in closed position.

9. The combination of a casing having a piston chamber, a water inlet passage in free communication with said chamber adjacent to one end, and a water outlet passage communicating through outlet and equalizing ports with the opposite ends of said chamber, a piston operating in said chamber between said outlet and equalizing ports, a spring holding said piston normally in its inner position, a valve normally closing said ,outlet port, a valve supporting lever pivoted in.said outlet passage and projecting through said equalizing port into said chamber, and a part projecting from said piston adapted to engage said lever.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses. RICHARD R. JAMES. Witnesses:

RICHARD C. DAocE'r'r, LAWRENCE O. Pownns, Jr. 

